Following the departure of the Klingon contingent, Gorkon's flagship, Kronos One, was attacked by a cloakedBird-of-Prey, suffering severe damage. As the disabled Kronos One drifted out-of-control, Burke and Samno beamed aboard wearing EV suits and gravity boots, and began systematically murdering Klingons, including Chancellor Gorkon himself. After returning to the Enterprise, the pair hid their suits in a ventilation shaft in the ship's officer's mess. However, they accidentally brought aboard some Klingon blood, and their suits were later discovered by Montgomery Scott. When it became clear that the Enterprise crew was close to discovering the truth, Burke and Samno were murdered by fellow conspirator, LieutenantValeris, via a phaser set to stun fired at close range.

Later, in a ruse to discover the other conspirator, Captains Kirk and Spock initiated a sting operation, where misinformation was spread indicating that Burke and Samno had survived, and laid in wait in sickbay to discover Valeris, who had come to finish the job of killing the two yeomen. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)